Is shallow convection sensitive to environmental heterogeneities?

With this in mind, we investigate the impact of environmental cloud-layer heterogeneities on shallow convection using large-eddy simulation that applies a master-slave methodology. In the master-slave approach, two independent sets of thermodynamic variables (master and slave) are driven by one dynamics (coupled with the master) to remove the impact of internal variability of the dynamical system considered. The two thermodynamic sets include either a realistic heterogeneous environment or an environment that is homogenized outside clouds.

It is important that homogenization also excludes subsiding shells surrounding cumulus clouds. The results show a small impact of the homogenization since the cloud field properties differ little between the master and slave thermodynamic sets. The physical explanation highlights the role of the subsiding shell shielding a shallow cumulus cloud from its environment."